I bolted from the Pokemon Center, tears streaming down my face. I heard Pikachu's paws hitting the ground behind me as he chased after me. I kept running for what seemed like forever, until I was out of breath.

Panting, I looked around and saw a large tree that was beside the path and I sat down behind it. Pikachu hopped up into my lap and I hugged him as I continued to cry.

"Pi...Pikachu. Pika...chu."

I couldn't understand what he had just said, but I knew that he was telling me to go back to my friends.

"I can't go back, Pikachu. You saw what happened to me today. I won't put them in danger like that if I can help it." I said firmly.

I continued to sit there, crying and hugging Pikachu as time passed by. As the sun set and night fell, I did manage to stop crying, but I still felt sad. I sat in silence for what must have been a couple of hours, until the silence was broken when I heard footsteps.

I jerked my head up and saw a familiar face approaching me. It was Megan, with Espeon walking beside her.

"Why are you here?" I asked emotionlessly. My voice was slightly raw from all the crying, so it sounded rough.

"Your dad told me and the others to give you space and some time alone, but I sneaked away to find you." A brief pause followed before she continued. "Adam...it hurt me to see you so devastated. And even though you were trying to keep me and the others away...in reality, you need my support and everyone else's right now, more than ever. You need us by your side on your journey. I know that you don't really want us to part ways."

"No, I don't want to leave you guys...but what if you get hurt because of me? You may be willing to take that risk, but I'm not! I care about you too much to let that happen to you." I argued.

"I don't care! That won't happen! We won't let it. You are in control of your own emotions. You have to be stronger than that darkness in you, because you are NOT dangerous. You are a force for good, Adam. You can overcome those negative emotions. Jason and I are here for you and we'll be here, no matter what. Because we believe in you that much."

"But how? How can I be certain that I can control it and not hurt you? Now that I know about the darkness in my heart, I'm scared. That's why I'm pushing you away from me. I'm scared of what I might do...and who I might become. I...I don't want to go down the wrong path."

"Everyone has good and bad in themselves. It's not about having a dark side, it's about what you do with it. You can let it control you and turn you into your worst fear...or you can control it and stay on the right path, unafraid of it. Plus, it always helps to know that you always have friends there to help you find the strength to control it."

"How can I find that strength to control it? And how can you help me?"

"You'll have to find it within you, but not by yourself. You can't do it alone, but with Jason and I by your side, through thick and thin, that's more than enough support."

"But...you're not scared of me? Of what I might do? Why not? Because I'm very scared of it."

"I'm not scared. Because I know you, Adam. You're someone who always fights for what's right. You're brave, selfless, moral, and just...but you're still only human. And being human means that you can only do so much on your own. As much as you try to help others, you forget that you need help sometimes, too. You're not invincible. You believe in your friends and you're always there for them...so let me do the same for you."

She gave a small smile and held her hand out to me. Her eyes held hope, but also uncertainty. She didn't know if her words had reached my heart, or if I would accept her hand and go back with the others.

Was what she said true? It felt like it was true. But could I really control my Aura, even with help from Megan and Jason? I guess I had to try. I couldn't let fear hold me back and make me risk losing my friends.

I took her hand and she pulled me to my feet and then wrapped her arms around my torso in a tight hug.

"Throughout our journey, you've been my rock, my support, someone who would stay by my side, come what may. Now it's my turn. You're the one who needs the support now, so let me be your rock, too. After all that you've done for me, I can't do anything less." she said softly.

I felt a warmth fill my chest, hearing her heartfelt words, and I slowly raised my arms and hugged her back.

She was right. I needed her and Jason by my side. Without my friends, I wouldn't be strong enough to overcome this new obstacle in my heart.

I also realized that my actions toward Megan on our journey had had a bigger influence on her than I had originally thought. They had changed her for the better, making her a stronger, wiser, and more mature person. And I loved the person that she had become. The only girl that I'd ever had deeper feelings for had been Michelle...but Megan had now come very close to that.

We parted from our hug and Megan wiped a tear from her eye. She looked relieved and happy that I wasn't going to leave her and Jason on their own.

"Want to go back to the Pokemon Center? It's late and the others are waiting for you to come back." Megan asked.

"Sure. I haven't eaten supper yet, either, so I'm hungry." I replied.

Megan smiled and took my hand and we walked back to the Pokemon Center hand-in-hand, with Pikachu and Espeon behind us. I knew that Pikachu was also happy that I had agreed to go back to my friends.

As we walked into the Pokemon Center, I saw my dad and Jason sitting in some chairs in the lobby. I could see worry on my dad's face, but when he heard us enter, the worry eased slightly.

"Sorry, I sneaked out." Megan said as we walked up to them.

My dad shook his head and said, "I understand why you did it, Megan. And I'm glad that whatever you said to him made him come back. I'm also glad that whatever was shared helped you feel better, Adam. You look better, too. I hope that you take Megan's words to heart and don't do that again."

"I'm sorry, guys. I was wrong. I need you both by my side. Can you both continue to travel with me?"

"Duh! Of course!" said Megan.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." Jason said, standing up.

We shared a group hug.

"And Dad, is there any way to control the emotions that fuel my Aura, so that I won't lose control again?" I asked.

"There is a way. Aura is more than just energy or power that resides within someone. It can also hold feelings, emotions, or even memories. Do you remember the story that I told you of the Riolu that I met and saved from Hunter J when I was traveling through Sinnoh with your mom?" he questioned.

I nodded my head and recalled the story.

"Well, because of my Aura Bond with Riolu, I was able to sense Riolu's emotions and see memories of his happier times. Since you have established an Aura Bond with Jason and Megan, they'll be able to help you control your Aura in a similar way."

"How can we do that?" Megan asked.

"I know that you both care deeply about Adam and you've clearly shared a lot of happy moments together as friends. So what if you two shared your Aura with Adam? Jason and Megan, you both have Aura that is more pure than Adam's, so if he were to absorb a small portion of your Aura each day, feeling the positive emotions and memories of the times that you've all shared together, it could help stabilize Adam's own Aura."

"That makes sense. Of course we're willing to help." Jason said.

"Right. Adam needs us and we're here for him, just like he's always there for us." Megan added.

"But neither of us can use Aura like Adam." Jason realized.

"Even though you can't 'give' Adam your Aura, Adam can still draw it out of you and absorb it. You just have to stay completely calm while doing so, and concentrate your minds on feeling positive emotions and memories." my dad explained.

Jason and Megan nodded their heads, understanding.

"Now why don't we head to the cafeteria for supper?" my dad suggested.

The next morning, I sat on the floor with Megan in our room. Pikachu and Espeon watched from the bed. We had finished breakfast early and we were going to attempt the Aura transfer for the first time.

"Just remember: happy, positive emotions and memories. And remain calm." I said.

Megan nodded her head and took my hands in her own. We closed our eyes and I concentrated.

After a few minutes, an image began to come into focus in the darkness. I saw a contest. It was when Megan first won a ribbon, as the image became bigger and clearer.

I was there with her on that day, of course, but I was seeing the memory through Megan's eyes instead of my own. I felt a warmth in my chest where my heart was. I realized that I was experiencing Megan's feelings and emotions from that moment in time. I felt her happiness, her gratitude to me for helping her train, and the sense of pride of being one step closer to her goal.

The image then faded away and Megan I opened our eyes.

"So did it work, Adam?"

"It was crazy. I felt your emotions and feelings. I saw the memory of your first contest win from your perspective. I felt everything that you felt in that moment."

"Then it worked! You saw the same memory that I was thinking of! Jason can help you, too. Now we can be certain that it can work! We did it!" she cried happily.

She then looked at me very seriously and added, "The next time that you feel like you may lose control of your Aura, think of that good memory and how it made you feel. Keeping your mind focused on good emotions rather than negative ones will clear your mind and prevent you from going too far again."

"That sounds like good advice, Megan. I'll do that and if I feel that I need another memory, I can always ask you or Jason."

"We should do this once or twice a day with different memories until you've gained full control of your emotions that could influence your Aura. I think that'll help you the most."

I nodded my head. "I think so, too. Thank you, Megan."

She smiled and pulled me into a warm hug, which I returned.

"No need to thank me, Adam. After all, what are friends for?"

"And Megan?"

"Hmm?"

"I promise that I'll never leave you or Jason again. I love you both so much."

"We love you too, Adam."

Several days passed since my Aura incident. Today, we were nearly to Petalburg City, along with April.

"I wonder if Mom has had the baby yet? And if so, is she still at the hospital? Regardless, I can't wait to find out!" Megan wondered aloud.

"Yeah, I agree, Sis. I can't wait to see if we have a baby sister or a baby brother!" April cried.

We soon reached the top of a tall hill and were looking down at Petalburg City.

"We're home!" Megan cried as she let out a joyful laugh and took off down the hill in a run.

"Wait up!" April cried, running after her sister.

Jason and I chuckled at her excitement and followed the two sisters.

Author's Note: Thanks to Megan, Adam has decided to stay with the group. Ash has also come up with a way for Adam to control his Aura, with help from Megan and Jason.

Adam and Megan are now closer than ever, after this experience. And it seems like Adam is starting to feel something special towards Megan, something that he hasn't felt for anyone since his previous journey with Michelle.

What do you think he's starting to feel? Do you think that Megan feels the same way? Will this method of sharing memories through Aura be enough to help Adam control his emotions and Aura? And what awaits the sisters at home in Petalburg City?

Let us know what you think the answers could be and find out in the next chapter of Pokemon NG!